Jarvis Cocker is among a group of leading musicians calling on Russia's president to give a fair hearing to members of a punk band facing prison

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, center, a member of feminist punk group Pussy Riot is escorted to a court room in Moscow, Russia, Friday, July 20, 2012. The trial of feminist punk rockers who chanted a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin from a pulpit inside Russia's largest cathedral started in Moscow on Friday amid controversy over the prank that divided devout believers, Kremlin critics and ordinary Russians. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)

FILE - In this June 20, 2012 file photo, Yekaterina Samutsevich, a member of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot, sits in a district court in Moscow. The trial of feminist punk rockers who chanted a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin from the pulpit of Russia's largest cathedral started in Moscow Friday, July 20, 2012 amid controversy over the prank that divided devout believers, Kremlin critics and ordinary Russians. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze, File)

Maria Alekhina, right, a member of feminist punk group Pussy Riot is escorted to a court room in Moscow, Russia, Friday, July 20, 2012. The trial of feminist punk rockers who chanted a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin from a pulpit inside Russia's largest cathedral started in Moscow on Friday amid controversy over the prank that divided devout believers, Kremlin critics and ordinary Russians. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)

From left, Yekaterina Samutsevich, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina, members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot sit behind bars at a court room in Moscow, Russia, Friday, July 20, 2012. The trial of feminist punk rockers who chanted a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin from a pulpit inside Russia's largest cathedral started in Moscow on Friday amid controversy over the prank that divided devout believers, Kremlin critics and ordinary Russians. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)

From left, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot sit behind bars as a police officer, left, guards at a court room in Moscow, Russia, Monday, July 23, 2012.The trial of feminist punk rockers who chanted a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin from a pulpit inside Russia's largest cathedral started in Moscow on Friday amid controversy over the prank that divided devout believers, Kremlin critics and ordinary Russians. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

From the left behind police officers: Maria Alekhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, member of feminist punk group Pussy Riot are escorted to a court room in Moscow, Russia, Monday, July 23, 2012.The trial of feminist punk rockers who chanted a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin from a pulpit inside Russia's largest cathedral started in Moscow on Friday amid controversy over the prank that divided devout believers, Kremlin critics and ordinary Russians. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

From left, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot sit behind bars at a court room in Moscow, Russia, Monday, July 23, 2012.The trial of feminist punk rockers who chanted a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin from a pulpit inside Russia's largest cathedral started in Moscow on Friday amid controversy over the prank that divided devout believers, Kremlin critics and ordinary Russians. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

From the left behind police officers: Maria Alekhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova with the book "Women's Liberation Movement in Russia. Feminism, Nihilism and Bolshevism." in her hands , members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot are escorted to a court room in Moscow, Russia, Monday, July 23, 2012.The trial of feminist punk rockers who chanted a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin from a pulpit inside Russia's largest cathedral started in Moscow on Friday amid controversy over the prank that divided devout believers, Kremlin critics and ordinary Russians. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, right, and Maria Alekhina, background center, members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot are excorted to a court room in Moscow, Russia, Friday, July 20, 2012. The trial of feminist punk rockers who chanted a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin from a pulpit inside Russia's largest cathedral started in Moscow on Friday amid controversy over the prank that divided devout believers, Kremlin critics and ordinary Russians. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)

From left, Yekaterina Samutsevich, Maria Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot sit behind bars at a court room in Moscow, Russia, Russia, Monday, July 30, 2012.Three members of the band are facing trial for performing a "punk prayer" against Vladimir Putin from a pulpit of Moscow's main cathedral before Russia's presidential election in March, in which he won a third term. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)

Yekaterina Samutsevich, right, a member of feminist punk group Pussy Riot is excorted to a court room in Moscow, Russia, Friday, July 20, 2012. The trial of feminist punk rockers who chanted a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin from a pulpit inside Russia's largest cathedral started in Moscow on Friday amid controversy over the prank that divided devout believers, Kremlin critics and ordinary Russians. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)

From left, Yekaterina Samutsevich, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina, members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot sit behind bars at a court room in Moscow, Russia, Friday, July 20, 2012. The trial of feminist punk rockers who chanted a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin from a pulpit inside Russia's largest cathedral started in Moscow on Friday amid controversy over the prank that divided devout believers, Kremlin critics and ordinary Russians. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)

Yekaterina Samutsevich, center, a member of feminist punk group Pussy Riot is escorted to a court room in Moscow, Russia, Friday, July 20, 2012. The trial of feminist punk rockers who chanted a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin from a pulpit inside Russia's largest cathedral started in Moscow on Friday amid controversy over the prank that divided devout believers, Kremlin critics and ordinary Russians. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

A group of leading musicians has called on Russia's president Vladimir Putin to give a fair hearing to members of a punk band facing prison for performing a "legitimate protest".

The trio, Pussy Riot, face up to seven years behind bars after staging a performance in a Moscow cathedral calling on the Virgin Mary to remove President Putin from power.

In a letter to the Times newspaper, the group of musicians - including Jarvis Cocker, Pete Townshend, Martha Wainwright and Neil Tennant - said that the incident by the band amounted to "a minor breach of the peace".

Requesting the release of the three band members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, and Maria Alekhina, 24, it states: "We are extremely concerned about the treatment they have received since their arrest and during their trial."

The letter continues: "Dissent is a right in any democracy and it is entirely disproportionate that they face seven years in jail for what we consider a preposterous charge of 'hooliganism motivated by religious hatred'.

"We are especially concerned about recent reports that food is being withheld from them and that they have appeared in court in a cage.

"We believe firmly that it is the role of the artist to make legitimate political protest and fight for freedom of speech.

"As he visits the United Kingdom this week, we ask President Putin to ensure these three women receive a fair hearing."